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Ok, question.... As I'm faced with the possibility of having to let go of my flower horn that is in my 55g, I am in the planning stages of swapping tanks. Right now I have the 55g with a flower horn, and then I have the 40g tank with some small cichlids.

The plan is to basicly one day move the fish from the 40g to the 55g. What would be the easiest?

Heres what I was thinking as of right now:

1. Emptying the 55g.

2. Taking out the filters and any decorations not wanted.

3. Moving one of the two filters over to the 55g from the 40g.

4. Moving just over half the water from the 40 to the 55.

5. Moving decorations and caves and such to 55g.

6. Moving fish.

7. Adding a little bit more of the water, then adding some fresh water.

8. Moving over the 2nd filter to the tank.

Hows that sound? any better suggestions?

Fish tanks are an expensive addiction

the fish will be shocked regardless from the move, but how different are the water perameters form tank to tank? if they are nearly identical you will need to take the fish out and into a large basin or into bags (like when they are sold) and acclimate (basin is for drip acclimation). to make sure bio load isnt a problem add some bacteria booster and melafix and conditioner to reduce stress... moving one of the filters and some decoratiosn will also help with maintaining the bio load. are you moving the flowerhorn back to the 40g? if so you should simply swap all contents of each tank... (except gravel if that is not desired). that way both territories are recreated and it saves from as much stress in the need to acquire/defend territory...

Good Luck...

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

You've outlined a good process to start with but I agree that a little more might be needed.

Even with tanks that don't have any added chemistry (salts ph adjustments ect) you're going to have differences in water and should always do an acclimation.

Why are you draining the 55? And do you have any other large containers that hold water that you can drain water into rather than dumping?
When I had to move my 50 gal stocktank I used a bunch of milk jugs (yep a bunch!) to store water in while I painted the wall then moved it back.

^_^

If this is done at all, Flower horn is going to be totally leaving any of my tanks in my apartment. Because I cannot move my 55g tank any place else than where it sits right now.

so instead of getting rid of a perfectly good tank, I may drain the water from it. and basicly move the fish, decoration, and water from the 40g to the 55g tank. and then adding fresh tap water with declor and stress coat to help out as i usually add.


or i may just have all the water tested by a trusted fish shop with all the good testing equipment, and if params are the same, i'll just move them and acclimate them from tank to tank.

Fish tanks are an expensive addiction

number two is the best solution... number one seems silly and illogical.

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"